Page 32 of Dash of Bryce
"Yeah, but I gave it back because he's going to stop by and install it."
I almost sighed. That was Gwen for you, always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.I loved her for it. Really, I did.But I hated to see others prey on her kindness. "Sure he is."
Gwen looked at me likeIwas the crazy one. "So what'syourtheory? He bought the wheel just to keep it for himself for a pet-stroller he doesn't have?"
"How shouldIknow?" I said. "Maybe he's just messing with you." Ormaybehe was like the guy who'd offered to fix the flat tire on Gwen's car only to give her a huge guilt trip when she'd tried to repay him with homemade brownies – and not the thing he'd beenreallycraving.Her.
She'd felt awful, andI'dfelt like slapping a brownie upside his head. In the end, nobody was happy, including him.
Abruptly, Gwen asked, "Where's Lexie?"
Good question.In fact, it was the same question I'd been asking myself for the past two hours. By now, I felt ready to burst. "For allIknow, she's making out on the street."
Gwen turned and looked toward the front windows. "What?"
"Notthisstreet," I clarified. "The lastIheard, she was making out in front of my parents' place."
"Really?" Gwen turned back with a perplexed look. "With who?"
"Oh, that's the best part," I said with a poor imitation of a laugh. "I'm pretty sure it was with that monster across the street."
At this, Gwen literally gasped. "No way. But she hates him." She hesitated. "Right?"
By now, it had been over a week since Lexie had first spotted her old boss at the mailbox across from us. At the time, she'd been suitably horrified to realize we were living so close to the guy who'd practically fired her.
The way it looked, she wasn't horrified anymore.
To Gwen, I replied, "Well, sheshouldhate him after what he did. But get this. This past Saturday night, I'm talking to my mom on the phone, and I hearDadsay in the background that Lexie was making out with some guy in an SUV, which is news to me because as far as I know, she's not even seeing anyone. So when she gets home – or rather when she gets backhere– I ask her about it. And you wanna know what she says?"
Gwen looked as concerned asIfelt. "What?"
"She gives me this story about some guy in accounting."
"Accounting?" Gwen paused as if thinking. "You mean at the candy store?"
"No. At heroldjob." I rolled my eyes. "C.J. she calls him. But I know there's something she's not telling me, so I get to thinking about her old boss. And you know what? He definitely owns an SUV."
Now Gwen looked ready to laugh. "Yeah, but lots of people do."
"Sure, but I'm not done," I said. "I already know his first name is Cole, and his last name is Henster. But what if hismiddlename begins with a 'J'?"
Thisgot her attention. "So, did you find out?"
Boy, had I ever.It was the first thing I'd checked upon returning from the ice-skating rink. The newshadn'tbeen good. "Oh, yeah. I checked his company website, and it listed his full name. You wanna guess the middle one?"
She winced. "John? Or maybe James?"
"No." My voice hardened. "Jamison."
Gwen took a moment to let that sink in. "So you think C.J. is her old boss?"
"I'm almost sure of it," I said. "I mean, come on. You know how she's always watching him through the window blinds."
Gwen nodded. "So, did you ask her what's up?"
"Of course I did. I already told you, remember?"
"Yeah, but did you mention what you learned about the initials?"
